Intermediary metabolism is a complex subject that is often covered in general biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and animal and plant physiology courses. The functions of metabolism include the generation of usable energy, the degradation of complex nutrients into smaller intermediates, and the synthesis of new carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids. Among the pathways most often studied are glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (tricarboxylic acid [TCA] or Krebs cycle), gluconeogenesis, the C3 (Calvin cycle) and C4 pathways of CO2 fixation, the β-oxidation cycle of fatty acid degradation, and the urea cycle. Most general biology textbooks include the structures of the key intermediates in these pathways along with the names of the enzymes that catalyze the individual reactions. More advanced textbooks provide additional details about each enzyme, such as its structure, reaction mechanism, and regulation. The breadth of this material can be overwhelming for both teachers and students.
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University of California Press